English - Book review

Even My Ears are Smiling by Michael Rosen

Following the publication of the much-loved Mustard, Custard, Grumble Belly and Gravy, former Children's Laureate Michael Rosen has produced another zany book of children's poetry.

Beautifully illustrated by Babette Cole, the author mixes classic favourites, to which he's given a lyrical twist, with his own new work. And you can listen to Rosen reading them on the CD included with the book.

Favourites for adults are sure to be the revamped versions of classic tongue twisters - spiced up by Rosen to confuse those of us who remember being tormented by them in the past. The old rhyme "She Sells Sea Shells" becomes "He tells tea-tales on the see-saw, the tales that he tells are tea-tales, I'm sure. He sells tea towels on the see-saw .' And there is plenty more where that came from.

Then there are his delicious flights of childlike fancy: A Dangerous Raisin, Attacked by a Banana, A Cow is a Beautiful Bird, and watch out for the dog with the angry man!

Children will be delighted with these tales, but they will also be a rare pleasure for adults who get the chance to relate them.

Even My Ears Are Smiling, by Michael Rosen, is published by Bloomsbury, pound;12.99

What else?

Visit TES Resources to find out more about the poet Michael Rosen and his work. Visual literacy resources are also available.